Elmer Fredrick is William and Margaret’s first child and only son.

Bud was born in Madison, Nebraska September 2, 1926 to William and Margaret Bals. He attended country school until the tenth grade, then his family moved to Fonda, Iowa.

1930 US Census: Elmer [3] is living with William and Margaret.

1940 US Census: Elmer [13] is living and presumably attending country school. He drops out within or after grade 10 when the family moves to Iowa.

Elmer served in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign of WWII as an island hopper from January 8, 1945 to November 28, 1946 earning the WW2 Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.

1950 US Census: Elmer [23] and his wife Rosie [23] are living/farmin in Fonda, Iowa with their infant son Larry. Bud is also working as a truck driver and Rosie is a housewife.

Bud and Rosie started in Fonda on rented ground. A house with 80 acres and then an additional 160 acres. He grew corn and beans as well as raised hogs, cattle, and sheep. In the mid 1960s, he auctioned off the farming equipment and moved the family to a purchased house in town.

Around that time, he became a Moorman Feed Salesman and had a 40 acre “hobby farm.” Here he had a few head of cattle which he would process to provide meat for the family, a substantial garden which he mostly gave away, and rented the arable land to other farmers. Other hobbies included hunting and fishing trips to South Dakota and Canada, fish fries, making horseradish, cards, reading, and driving around.

When I’d stay with him, we’d drive the daily circuit - downtown for coffee and breakfast, post office, grain elevator/feed store to chat, check on the farm [Garden/Cattle], home for a rest. Then back up for lunch uptown and whomever else he wanted to visit.

His inability to sit still is a trait I vividly see in myself. I have/maintain a large garden and enjoy canning the produce, especially hot sauce. His love for aimlessly driving is seen in both my father and myself.